Hatching device



A. R. BULLOCK HATGHING DEVICE Filed July 7, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 1,517,950 A. R. BULLOCK HATCHING DEVICE "2 Sheets-sheaf 2 Filed July '7. 1923 Patented Dec. 2, 1924 57 i A in: "1/

isms

HATCHING DEVICE.

Application filed July 7,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR H. BULLOCK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Elmwood, in the county of Cass and State of Nebraska, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hatching Devices, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to improvements in hatching devices and more particularly to a combination unit for simultaneously housing a plurality of setting hens.

An important object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which may be readily assembled, which may be flatly stored when not in use, which is simple and durable in service and a general improvement in the art.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of this character constructed in units, which units are readily added to or substracted from if so desired, thus preventing the fouling and vermin infesting of nests which are not in use.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of this character constructed of a plurality of duplicate parts thereby lessening the cost of manufacturing the same.

These and other objects I attain by the construction shown in the accompanying drawings wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention and wherein Figure 1 is a plan view of a hatcher constructed in accordance with my invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken therethrough;

Figure 4 is a detail sectional View taken on the line 4:4 of- Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a perspective view showing the manner of connecting the ends and partitions; and

Figure 6 is a section on the line 6-6 of Figure 3.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the hatcher comprises a plurality of transverse partitions 10 and 11 which are alternated, these partitions being exactly similar in their construction as regards the central portion thereof. This central portion consists of a straight sheet metal section provided centrally with a pair of vertically aligned openings 12, one of which 1923. Serial No. 650,120.

is located adjacent the top of the partition, the other of which is located approximately midway of the height of the partition. Immediately below the aligned openings 12, each partition 10 and 11 has an opening 13 formed therein, the purpose of which will presently appear. Each partition 10 and 11 is provided at each end thereof with an upward extension 1 1. The only difference in the partitions lies in these upper extensions, those of the partitions 10 being slightly greater and having their upper edges lying in a plane above those of the partitions 11. At its outer end each partition 10 and 11 has formed therein a pair of vertically aligned openings 15, one opening being arranged at the top and the other at the bottom of the partition. Immediately below the adjacent ends of each of the extensions 14 the partitions 10 and 11 have formed therein openings 16 and below the openlngs 16 and in approximate vertical alignment thereof are a pair of openings 17 which are vertically aligned, the lowermost of these openings being arranged at the bottom of the partition 11 and the other openings being spaced at short distance thereabove.

The numeral 18 designates end sections each in the form of a single sheet of meta]. having the longitudinal edges thereof provided with a roll 19 forming an eye for the reception of a securing element, as will hereinafter be more fully set forth. These rolls at equally spaced intervals are provided with notches 20 of a width suificient to permit insertion through the roll of the ends of the partitions 10 and 11. When the partitions 10 and 11 are properly engaged with the end members, the openings 15 thereof align with eyes formed by the rolls 19, so that securing bolts 21'may be directed therethrough to hold the end sections and partitions in assembled relation. When the end sections and partitions 10 and 11 are assembled in this manner the openings 12, 13, 16 and 17 thereof are held in alignment so that securing elements may be directed therethrough, as hereinafter more fully set forth.

The numerals 22 and 23 designate nests and central partitions, respectively. Each of these partitions is formed by employing a strip of metal of a length equal to the distance between adjacent partitions 10 and 11 and rolling upon the edges thereof eyes similar to the eyes of the end walls 18. To the opening 17, beginning at one end of the combined structure of the end and partition walls, bolts 2% are directed, a partition 22 being fitted upon these bolts and passing the bolts through the eyes thereof intermediate each of the partitions 10 and 11. Similarly, through the openings 12 bolts 25 are directed, a partition 23 being threaded upon these bolts intermediate each pair ofpartitions 10 and 11. With these partitions in place there is a space below the central partitions 23 and above the nest partitions 2 2. The space below the central partitions 23 is closed by extending through the openings 13 of the partitions a water trough 26 of a length equal to the overall length of the collection of units this trough eXtending to both sides of the partition 23 and closing the space between the lower ends of the partitions to divide the space between the partitions into two yards, one of which is open to each nest, the trough being accesssible to fowls in either of the yards. This trough may be readily removed at any time by simply withdrawing the same and so may be scalded at regular intervals to keep the same pure and clean. The space above the nest partitions 22 is closed by a door 26% being hereinafter more particularly described.

The numeral 27 designates roof sections, each roof section being of a length equal to the distance between adjacent partitions 10 and therefore bridging and resting upon the intermediate partition 11 to be supported thereby. These roof sections are shaped to conform to the shaping of the extensions lt of the sections 10, being sub stantially V-shaped and having the edge of one of the arms of the V provided centrally with a notch 28 through which the upper edge of the partition 11 is adapted to extend. The lower edge of this arm is provided at opposite sides of the notch with flanges 29 of less width than the distance between adjacent partitions 10 and 11, these flanges being rolled to form eyes. The door sections 26 are provided at opposite sides thereof at their upper edges with flanges '30 which are complementary to the flanges 29 of the roof sections 27. In other words,

the flanges 30 when combined with the flanges 29 are of a. width equal to the distance between the adjacent faces of the partitions 10 and 11. the flanges 30 being rolled to form eyes. Through the opening 16 are directed bolts 31, the bolts being threaded beginning at one end of the structure and between each partition 10 and 11 being engaged through the eyes of the door and an eye 29 of a roof section. thus the bolts 31 form a pivot for both the roof sections 27 and doors 26. The doors 26 are of such length that their lower edges abut against the partitions 22 upon the outer side of this partition from the nest, the door therefor opening outwardly and permitting the fowl occupying the nest section to pass to the associated yard at any time it may desire.

The yard cover 32 comprises side members 33, each comprising a vertical flange 34: and a horizontal flange 35, the horizontal flange being folded at its inner edge to provide a folded seam 36. The vertical flange abuts the outside or end partition members 10 and has formed in its ends openings through which the ends of the bolts 31 are directed and centrally an opening through which the uppermost bolt 25 is directed. Thus. these end members are held in position by the securing elements of the partitions and doors. Adjacent each end these folded seams 36 engage the end of longitudinal strips 3? and centrally of these folded seams engage the ends of a central strip 38 overlying the partitions 23. The adjacent edges of the strips 37 and 88 are provided with folded seams including the longitudinal edges of a sheet of fabric 39, preferably open mesh wire, the door of this sheet being included in the seam 36 of the end members 33. It will be obvious that by removing the securing elements from one end of the bolts 81 and one end of the bolt 25 which coacts with the end members 33 and shifting the bolts longitudinally a short distance, this cover may be released at one end permitting access to the yards. It will be seen from the foregoing that T have provided a multiple compartment hatcher or brooding coop which is formed entirely of sheet metal and the parts of which may be readily disassembled for flat storage when so desired. The coop a whole is readily cleansed and attention to the brooding hens is greatly facilitated. At the same time the cost of the completed structure is materially reduced. and a structure is provided which may be added to at any time if so desired. Many changes being possible in the construc tion of the device as hereinbefore set forth without in any manner departing from the spirit of my invention T accordingly do not limit myself to such specific structure except as hereinafter claimed.

T claim:

1. In a hatching device of the type described. end members having their longitudinal edn es rolled to form eyes. said eyes Being notched at spaced intervals, partition members having their ends extended into the eyes of said. end members and provided with openings aligning with said eyes. and securelements extending through the open ings of said partitions and the eyes of said end members to secure the same in assembled relation.

2. In hatching deviceof the type described, end members having their longitudinal edges rolled to form eyes, said eyes being notched at spaced intervals, partition members having their ends extended into the eyes of said end members and provided with openings aligning With said eyes, securing elements extending through the openings of said partitions and the eyes of said end members to secure the same in assembled relation, and transverse partitions arranged intermediate the first named partitions subdividing the space therebetween intonest and yard sections.

3. In a hatching device of the type described, end members having their longitudinal edges rolled to form eyes, said eyes being notched at spaced intervals, partition members having their ends extended into the eyes or said end members and provided with openings aligning With said eyes, securing elements extending through the openings of said partitions and the eyes of said end members to secure the same in assembled relation, and transverse partitions arranged intermediate the first named partitions subdividing the space therebetvveen into nest and yard sections, each of said partitions having rolled edges forming eyes, the first named partitions having aligned openings adapted for the reception of securing elements, each of said securing elements intermediate each pair of the first named partitions being engaged through the eye of a transverse partition.

4. In a hatching device of the type described, end members having their longitudinal edges rolled to form eyes, said eyes being notched at spaced intervals, partition members having their ends extended into the eyes of said end members and provided with openings aligning with said eyes, and securing elements extending through the openings of said partitions and the eyes of said end. members to secure the same in assembled relation, each of said partitions being providecl on its upper edge adjacent the end thereof with an upstanding triangular enlargement, the enlargements of alternate partitions being smaller, aligned openings formed in the partitions beneath the inner edges of the enlargements and adapted for the reception of a securing element extending through all of said partitions, a door pivotally mounted on said securing element intermediate each pair of partitions, and roof sections equal in length to the distance between partitions having the greater enlargements and provided with eye sections pivotally engaging said securing element between adjacent pairs of partitions, the central portion of said roof section resting upon and being supported by the enlargement of the intermediate partition.

5. In a hatching device, a pair of opposed rows of nest sections, parallel partitions subdividing the nest sections one from another continued between the sections to form yard sections, transverse partitions connecting the parallel partitions centrally thereof tosubdivide each yard section into two sections, and securing elements each extending through all of said parallel partitions and engaged with each of said transverse partitions for securing said transverse partitions in position with relation to the parallel partitions and for maintaining said parallel partitions in properly spaced relation.

6. In a hatching device of the type described end members having guides at their longitudinal edges, partition members having their ends abutting the end members and provided with openings aligning with said guides, and securing elements extending through the openings of said partitions and said guides of the end members to secure the same in assembled relation.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature.

ARTHUR R. BULLOCK. 

